A vibrant investment education ecosystem has helped Sweden cement its status as one of Europe’s most important growth centres for SMEs, writes Ed Knight, Vice Chairman at Nasdaq Inc.

Investor education is a key component of the overarching goal of investor protection, a goal in which regulatory bodies and financial institutions play a pivotal role, says Niroshan Wijesundere, Head of Marketing, Colombo Stock Exchange.

Hong Kong’s world-leading financial literacy rates show that education has the power to create opportunities at every level of society, writes Vanessa Lau, Group Chief Financial Officer, HKEX.

Ongoing education and financial literacy campaigns are paying off in Kazakhstan, where the pool of quality investors is growing at an unprecedented rate, says Ermek Mazhekenov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Kazakhstan Stock Exchange.

For more than a decade, the Taiwan Stock Exchange has taken an innovative approach to financial education through the medium of comic books, writes the TWSE Corporate Communications Department’s Chiu Fun-Shun.

Financial literacy is critical to the growth of capital markets in Nigeria and the NGX is committed to supporting initiatives that encourage the public to develop sustainable investment habits, says Olumide Bolumole, Divisional Head, Listings Business, Nigerian Exchange Limited.

BMV is leveraging technology to accelerate digital platforms, content and education campaigns to promote financial awareness and investing in financial markets, says Luis René Ramón, Director of Financial Planning, Investor Relations and ESG, and Nalleli Barajas, Deputy Director of ESG, at Bolsa Mexicana de Valores.

Investment banks and financial firms remain top destinations for future graduates, and technological innovation is making the sector even more enticing. CME’s annual University Trading Challenge is designed to give tomorrow’s financial leaders a taste of the trading floor and a head start in this competitive arena, says Anita Liskey, Senior Managing Director, Global Brand Marketing and Communications, CME Group.

Our October issue is devoted to investor protection, financial literacy, and financial inclusion: things WFE members do as naturally as breathing. It’s a subject that has even greater resonance as we consider the increased participation of retail investors in financial markets.

This month we hear from 14 of our members, starting with Edith Lee, CEO and Executive Director of the Taipei Exchange. Helping today’s investors gain experience and confidence is an essential part of building a modern society, she writes.

Ittai Ben-Zeev, Chief Executive Officer of Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, agrees, as he